Renlund - The Priesthood and the Savior's Atoning Power - October 2017

Elder Renlund compares the priesthood to a rocket.  The rocket is a way to deliver the payload just as the priesthood is the way God help deliver eternal life.

• This evening I would like to compare the priesthood that we hold to a rocket and the opportunity to benefit from the Savior’s atoning power to the payload that a rocket delivers.
• For Heavenly Father’s purposes to be accomplished, Christ’s atoning power needs to be made available to God’s children. The priesthood delivers these opportunities. It is the rocket. Priesthood is essential because necessary ordinances and covenants on earth are administered only by its authority. If the priesthood fails to deliver the opportunity to benefit from the Savior’s atoning power, what would be its purpose? Would it just be a complex, attention-grabbing firecracker? God intends priesthood to be used for more than just a class on Sunday or as a service opportunity. He intends for it to deliver the payload.
  

 
He speaks about the purpose of the priesthood and what is brings to the children of God.

• The purpose of the priesthood is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. We have the priesthood so that we can help Heavenly Father’s children be relieved of the burden of sin and become like Him. Through the priesthood, the power of godliness is manifest in the lives of all who make and keep gospel covenants and receive the associated ordinances. This is the way each of us comes unto Christ, is purified, and is reconciled to God. Christ’s atoning power is made accessible through the priesthood, which delivers the payload.

 
When we are faithful to our priesthood covenants, the Savior is able to make something more of us than we can make of ourselves alone.

• Jesus Christ will prepare the way before the priesthood holder and will be with him. The Holy Ghost will be in the priesthood holder’s heart, and angels will bear him up. His body will be strengthened and renewed. He will become heir to the blessings of Abraham and, along with his wife, joint-heir with Jesus Christ to Heavenly Father’s kingdom. These are “exceeding great and precious promises.” No greater promises can be imagined.

 
When we break our covenants and choose a different path, consequences occur.  Not only do we lose the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, we could lose our membership in the church and our temple blessings.

• Severe consequences result from breaking priesthood covenants and altogether turning from them. Being casual or apathetic in a priesthood calling is like introducing material fatigue into a rocket component. It jeopardizes the priesthood covenant because it can lead to mission failure. Disobedience to God’s commandments breaks the covenant. For a perpetual, unrepentant covenant-breaker, the promised blessings are withdrawn.

 
Elder Renlund speaks about a man he met on assignment to organize a stake.  He met with a young man receiving the priesthood and temple blessings again after repenting.  He speaks about the amazing results of the atonement in our lives and how great it is that these blessings are given to man through the priesthood power.

• I have come to realize that the purpose of organizing a stake, or using the priesthood of God in any way, is to assist Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in Their work—to provide the opportunity for redemption and exaltation to each of God’s children. Like the rocket whose purpose is to deliver a payload, the priesthood delivers the gospel of Jesus Christ, enabling all to make covenants and receive the associated ordinances. “The atoning blood of Christ” can thereby be applied in our lives as we experience the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost and receive the blessings God promises.

 
Finally, Elder Renlund invites us to make and keep sacred covenants.  When we do, we will be partners with God to bring out His purposes for His children here on earth.

• I invite you to make and keep priesthood covenants. Receive God’s oath and His promise. Magnify your responsibilities in the priesthood to help Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Use the priesthood to help deliver the opportunity to benefit from the Savior’s atoning power to someone else! As you do, great blessings will come to you and your family.

The priesthood is the power that helps us provide eternal blessings to the children of God.  As we are faithful in our responsibilities, the Lord will use us to help others come unto Christ.  It is important to realize that the blessings of the priesthood are not used selfishly but used to help others.  We all need the priesthood to make it possible to return to God.